A lot is happening on Rescue: HI-Surf any given episode.
There are rescues, obviously, but we’re also seeing the personal journeys of the North Shore lifeguards as they battle rebellious teens, try to grow up, and encounter romantic challenges at every turn.
Hina and Kainalu began the series as rivals, but their short-lived rivalry gave way to a friendship and their roommate era, which is slowly ending just as their romantic journey should be ready to begin.
If you’ve been watching television long enough, you know the benefits and drawbacks of the will-they/won’t-they trope.
For many couples, the period in which they stay in the state of limbo about their romance can be some of the best material you’ll ever get.
The longing and the uncertainty make for captivating drama, as internal battles and often outside forces keep a couple apart.
Hina and Kainalu are well into their will-they/won’t-they era, and Kainalu is currently dating a friend of Hina’s, just to add a little extra spice to the proceedings.
Yes, their relationship fits into many stereotypes we’ve seen a million times, like their different socioeconomic backgrounds and their early rivalry on the job. Still, there’s been something intriguing and different about the pair from the beginning.
For starters, though Rescue: HI-Surf Season 1 began with Kainalu heavily in his nepo bag, it didn’t take long for him to settle into the job and show that he was not a carbon copy of his mayor daddy.
It’s not as if Kainalu has disowned his father, and he still does benefit from the privilege that being an Emerson brings, but he’s also shown himself to want to work hard and forge his own path.
Kainalu isn’t content to follow in his father’s footsteps.
Instead, he utilizes his strengths for something he deems worthy, like saving lives as a lifeguard and even trying to help his fellow lifeguards by purchasing land via his own means to create an affordable, communal living space.
One of Kainalu’s best qualities is his sincerity, which Hina couldn’t hide from the longer they worked and lived together.
Hina grew up entirely differently from Kainalu, and considering how Kainalu originally got his job, she had every right to feel frustrated with him.
Their rivalry was more one-sided than anything, as Kainalu has proven much more outwardly smitten with Hina than the other way around. However, as Hina got to know her co-worker and roommate better, it was easy to see the similarities.
Both have fun personalities and are committed to the job. And more than anything, they’re both big-hearted, respectful people who listen to one another.
They had two wildly different experiences growing up on the same island, but as adults, they share many of the same values and support one another.
When Kainalu was injured during Rescue: HI-Surf Season 1 Episode 13, after his family, Hina was the first one in his room with baked goods, positive vibes, and a soft kiss on the cheek to let him know she was there for him.
Kainalu has been a sounding board for her, and they’ve developed a great rapport as partners when paired.
Perhaps nothing showed the strength of their bond more than the quiet moment during Rescue: HI-Surf Season 1 Episode 17 when Kainalu set up a breath-holding competition amongst the lifeguards to see who would get a yurt.
You could see Kainalu start to squirm under the water, fidgeting and maybe even starting to panic a little, which is the worst possible thing to happen while you’re trying to hold your breath for an undetermined amount of time.
Hina, ever steadfast and calm, just gently reached out to him, and within seconds, he relaxed.
It’s a brief moment but a testament to how the relationship has grown since Rescue: HI-Surf Season 1 Episode 1.
They trust each other, lean on each other, and depend on each other.
Of course, Kainalu is dating Rosie now, and she’s perfectly lovely.
But let’s not pretend there’s no long-term option for Kainalu. That option is Hina, for all the reasons already discussed.
The series seems hellbent on feeding us Em and Will, who have tried to make their relationship work but don’t communicate and don’t seem to ever be on the same page at the same time.
Their relationship has never been the most compelling. It’s also got a ton of baggage and just isn’t the kind of relationship you want to root for at this stage, even if you can acknowledge that they’ll probably find their way back together at some point.
Hina and Kainalu, on the other hand, are a fresh pair whose story is just being written.
If the stars align and Rescue: HI-Surf returns for a second effort, the powers that be should recognize they have an actual power couple in the young pair and so many different storylines to explore.
They can go with the lighthearted affairs and still bring the drama that keeps these shows in business.
The actors have fantastic chemistry, and their relationship is one you’re drawn to because it feels relatable. And that could be because we’ve seen variations of it across different mediums.
But even if this is a story we’ve seen before, it’s still one worth telling with these characters.
Rescue: HI-Surf has found a great ‘ship people are excited about, and they shouldn’t squander it.
All right, fanatics, what do you guys think about the Hina and Kainalu ship?
Do you want to see them flourish in Season 2?
Let me know all your thoughts in the comments below so we can discuss them!
You can watch Rescue: HI-Surf on FOX at 9/8c on Mondays.
Watch Rescue: HI-Surf Online
TV Fanatic is searching for passionate writers to share their voices across various article types. Think you have what it takes to be a TV Fanatic? Click here for more information and next steps.